Is this TOO cheap? or smart?

[wdwfan16]

I can sympathize because we usually get 200-300 kids. However, a few big bags of smarties or dum dum pops aren't that much. If need be, you can turn off the lights when you run out.

As kids we hated getting those. We wanted and thankfully got the good chocolate. We give out the good chocolate. The kids get 5-6 different kinds in the bags. It is really not that expensive. We get 100 kids. I wish we got more. I love Halloween

OP ditch the idea and just turn off the lights.

 

[princessmom29]

I personally think it is tacky to hand out something anyone can print for free. I would either suck it up and buy some candy or turn off my light and not play at all.

 

[luvsJack]

I don't know so much about the "kids only want candy" theory.

My kids and their friends have always enjoyed getting stickers, tattoos, little bouncy balls, plastic mini yo-yos, even mardi gras beads (always get a bunch of those!) and most of that stuff (if you buy in large quantities) is cheaper than candy.


And I have seen people give out some kind of coupons--like for bowling or skating or a free taco or hamburger, they just give something else with it. We always enjoy using the coupons for a snack after trick or treating or taking the group skating later or even the next night. We also get coupons like that at all the fall festivals we go to.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

As a parent I hate coupons. My kids cannot eat the ice cream from McDonalds and if I want to take them bowling that is my choice. I agree with the others, get some candy you can afford or shut off your light. In reply to your original question- It is too cheap.

 

[AntePrincess]

Every year we buy the trick or treat coupon packs from Wendy's or another chain where the proceeds go to charity. At $1 per 10 coupons good for a free treat (such as a Jr Frosty), I'd be out at most $30 in your shoes. I've never heard anyone complain about the coupons, even the parents are usually happy to have something that is not consumable this very second.

Companies selling similar booklets this year include:
Wendy's - to benefit the Dave Thomas Foundation for orphans
McDonald's - no idea who their chosen charity is
Friendly's - for a free cone, benefits Easter Seals
Boston Market - for various free foods, to benefit "Give Kids the World"
Burger King - no idea who their charity is, the coupons are for fries

 

[dislal]

I agree with everyone else you should set your budget and then turn off your lights when you are out.

My mom gets between 100-150 kids every year and this year she bought 4 cases of pepsi on sale (I think that will be heavy for the kids to carry around and what if they drop their bag oh no now I am really worried about this. LOL) and a few bags of candy bars and I know she didn't spend more than $50 and she will just turn out her lights if she gets more kids than that.

ETA: I just remembered she bought the pepsi when it was on sale buy 4 cases get one free about a month ago at our local grocery store so she got 5 cases of pepsi for $20 and then some bags of candy with coupons from the sunday paper so I don't even think she spent $30 to $35.

 

[Missy1961]

As kids we hated getting those. We wanted and thankfully got the good chocolate. We give out the good chocolate. The kids get 5-6 different kinds in the bags. It is really not that expensive. We get 100 kids. I wish we got more. I love Halloween

OP ditch the idea and just turn off the lights.

Of course I preferred chocolate, but I also liked lollipops. And I was always happy to get candy of any type--I could trade the stuff I didn't like with my brothers & sisters.

OP, either get cheap candy or turn out your lights. I doubt the bowling alley would be happy with that many "free" games.

 

[big_red_s]

I always hit up "my" comic book guy for back issues at a bulk price and pass them out instead of candy.

The kids love it.

 

[AntePrincess]

I always hit up "my" comic book guy for back issues at a bulk price and pass them out instead of candy.

The kids love it.

Big_Red, That's an awesome idea! I might consider stealing the idea.

 

[branv]

Cheap. If you're having money problems, then by all means don't participate. Either buy treats to give out or don't give out anything. To be honest, it reminds me of the strange little things you'd get from the sweet elderly widow on the corner on a meager fixed income, who your parents explained to you, the confused little kid who didn't understand, that they were doing the best they could. And ethically, if this isn't your situation, it's sort of the equivalent of going into a restaurant and pouring their free mints into your purse to hand out to the kiddos. Besides, I can guarantee most of the recepients won't like it or use this coupon, and I'm sure that since you WANT to give out something, you obviously want to make them happy. Choose something that stands a better chance at being well-received.

And not to mention, if any of your neighbors already know about this free coupon, they'll know when they see it in their kid's bag that you didn't buy these. If that doesn't bother you, then no problem. But it would embarrass me.

 

[Justsyd2]

I think it's too cheap, and that you've been given great ideas for alternative treats. It sounds like you either feel obligated, or you really want to have something to pass out.

If you feel obligated, but don't have the money, simply turn out the light. If you're looking for thrifty ideas you can always go to Walmart or a nice Party Store to pick up large lots of candy/favors for a reasonable price.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Too cheap.

Turn out your light, the party's over.

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I don't know so much about the "kids only want candy" theory.

My kids and their friends have always enjoyed getting stickers, tattoos, little bouncy balls, plastic mini yo-yos, even mardi gras beads (always get a bunch of those!) and most of that stuff (if you buy in large quantities) is cheaper than candy.

I agree. My brother and I both never liked candy but we liked dressing up with the other kids in the neighborhood. My parents would end up taking all of the candy to work the next day for their coworkers to have. My two favorite all time things I received trick or treating was a Halloween themed mechanical pencil that had little bats on it and a can of soda . The can of soda came from a guy who lived alone in his house and I think was just finding random stuff in his house to give to kids. I loved it!

 

[princessmom29]

Every year we buy the trick or treat coupon packs from Wendy's or another chain where the proceeds go to charity. At $1 per 10 coupons good for a free treat (such as a Jr Frosty), I'd be out at most $30 in your shoes. I've never heard anyone complain about the coupons, even the parents are usually happy to have something that is not consumable this very second.

Companies selling similar booklets this year include:
Wendy's - to benefit the Dave Thomas Foundation for orphans
McDonald's - no idea who their chosen charity is
Friendly's - for a free cone, benefits Easter Seals
Boston Market - for various free foods, to benefit "Give Kids the World"
Burger King - no idea who their charity is, the coupons are for fries

Yes, but these were not free to anyone who wanted to print them, so at least they were worth something!! I lved getting the frosty cupons as a kid.

 

[MOMTOMOOTOO]

Too cheap and really not fair to print 500 coupons for the local bowling alley.

 

[Chicago526]

I'll give you points for trying to think outside the box, but I agree with the others.

Costco sells 150 piece mix of "the good stuff". In you shoes I'd buy 2 bags of that and shut off my light if/when I ran out. I can't remember what the big bags run, but I did the math last year and it was a good deal vs. buying smaller bags at Target or Walmart.

If money is REALLY that tight, shut off your porch light. As a kid I remember not caring that some people had their light off, we just moved on to the next house.

 

[luvtogo12]

Off topic, but for those that give out dum dum lollipops or anything that can easily be unwrapped and wrapped again, aren't you afraid they will go to waste? I am "trained" to throw these items away.

 

[irisesareblue]

Rather than using all your ink to print the coupons, why not just give something small to each child - even bubble gum would be appreciated. I second the soda or juice boxes - we've done this the past few years and it is usually appreciated, esp for kids who take their lunches.

 

[MoonFaerie]

I don't know so much about the "kids only want candy" theory.

My kids and their friends have always enjoyed getting stickers, tattoos, little bouncy balls, plastic mini yo-yos, even mardi gras beads (always get a bunch of those!) and most of that stuff (if you buy in large quantities) is cheaper than candy.

I agree. Where we live now never gets any trick or treaters (not really in a neighborhood), but we used to live in one of those popular ones that gets 700ish kids. We always bought a couple of packs of things for kids with allergies and the little ones. One year we did mini playdoh and Halloween rubber duckies as the special ones. We saved them for the kids that couldn't have the chocolate, but there was still a few left by the time things started to really slow down. We just tossed them in with the candy, and until they were gone not a single person picked the candy.

 

[wdwfan16]

Off topic, but for those that give out dum dum lollipops or anything that can easily be unwrapped and wrapped again, aren't you afraid they will go to waste? I am "trained" to throw these items away.

We only ate the sealed candy when I was a kid. We only give out sealed candy. We would never let our daughter eat anything that is not sealed. The smarties, dum dums, bubble gum and the like would go right in the trash.